The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-04-23

SIkEEI tDA NJ IN I4hhlff 'NiS VIZ INN W NV
this transp.rcd while the two companies
from the writer's county were yet IN citl'
7en's dress and eating the food OF civil life.
Already, however, had each member taken
an oath before Justice OF the peace 10
support the constitution and laws OF the
United States
The little round Of routine at the Couaty
scat-of eating, sleeping AMI imperfect
/ drill-was varied one evening by n social
gathering in the body of the CONTINUOUSLY
al which all the soldiers and many citizens
and ladies' were present One young lady
sang with much effect the piece then just
published, in which are the words;
Brave boys are they, gone at their country's
call,
d" And yet, and Yet we can not forget that many
brave boys must fall.
The song made even the more thoughtlcss
| OF the ncwly-cnlisted think seriously of the
| new and dangerous duties upon which they
were about to enter.
As before stated, an order had been re-
cclved directing the companies upon an
early date IN September to report at lit
| tie city forty miles distant
As the time for departure drew near
every man visited home for the last time,
ana maj arrangements WIZ AH"pN iOi 4N"G
absence.
Then the adieus were said and ali once
! more came together at the county seat
But sad and fearful were those adicus as
father, mother brother, sister or wife took
| the parting one by the hand, none knowing
how soon he would fall in wars frightful
harvest OF human life.
AT the appointed time friends, neigh bors
l
one fine September morning tho vehicles
were loaded with hearty specimens OF
young manhood, and the journey over a
dusty road to the railway, twenty miles
distant, was begun.
Three or four miles on the road was a
hill, where the procession for some cause
halted for a time.
From here the writer remembers taking
q look At the courthouse and church spires
behind, thinking may be this was the last
time he would ever see them.
At about noon the railway station was
reached and all boarded the passenger
train that sooE arr we'd. TO many of the
younger men the experience was new as
they were never before inside railway
cara statement that may sound strange
to the rising, generation, but quarter OF
n N'Hlhi hSo lhlIiOauS N'IO mum iCSS
common than now.
After travelling on the cars for twenty
or thirty miles the men got o f and marched
seven miles across the country TO tho little
city OF Their destination. The afternoon
was hot, the roads were dusty, and the
writer remembers suffering much discom-
fort from pair Of new, tight-ittlng shoes
he had put on that morning for the first
time,
Indeed the discomfort amounted almost
to torture. and for this reason tins trip OF
seven miles proved one Of the hardest
marches in the whole three years service.
Arrived at the little city, the men were
directed to the fair grounds, where, under
the sheds in the horse and cattle stalls,
they found quarters An abundance Of
or,ght, clean straw had been provided
upon which, with the blankets and quilts
brought from home, sleeping places were
made. The grounds were mcloscd with
nigh, tight board fence, and within were
green with thrifty grass while scattered
about weIc groves Of shade trees The
September weather was delightful, and the
novelty Of the new way OF living with its
pleasant surroundings was most enjoyable.
However, there was one draw back;
meals were taken at tho boarding houses
IN the city; these were all run by Ger
mans aul the tasts and fumes Of garlic
,rrn,,& to pcrmc"ic every article of food
un tn U.p!r. Il WAS, ot course, IN all the
meats IN may OF tn vrgeIJ.c,, but
every man would have taken OATH that 1t
WAS in the bread, coffee, aud even IN the
salt and sugar as we'll.
Nearly all took severe colds from sleep
ing IN the open air.
Only about ten days were spent at this
place when the men were ordered to the
State capital, Springfield, ILL., St Louis
was reached 10y rail, when a steamboat
was taken for Alton, IL, here after night
the men boarded a tram OF coal-cars, boards
having been put across for seats. The ride
was any thing but pleasant, those sitting
near the outer edge Of the car seemed i'll
constant danger OF falling overheard, and
the smoke, clndcrs and sparks from the
engine were tormentng in the extreme.
After awhile Springfield was reached;
meantime little rain had begun 10 fall,
and the men found shelter IS best they
could The writer, with companion,
made his bed for the remainder Of the
nigh, on the stone steps-over which was
a projection-of "a friendly church building
near the railway depot.
Next morning breakfast was found at
the hotels, During the forenoon the writer
with several comrades visited the late res
idence Of President Lincoln, gathered some
flowers from the yard and sent them home
as souvenir.
About noon the cars were taken for
Camp Butter. seven miles east OF Spring
field Here was found au Enclosure Of
about forty acres, having around it high
uyht-boari fence. Near the sides Of the
ncloeurc were rows OF long narrow build
ncs--oArracks. Al orc end were me OH
CTs, comm ~sary and Quartcrmsstcr de-
s.rimcuis; at tie other Gu. the guard.